Beechcraft King Air 260 vs Beechcraft King Air 360er vs Daher Tbm 960
The Beechcraft King Air 260 and King Air 360ER are both twin‑engine turboprop business aircraft, while the Daher TBM 960 is a single‑engine turboprop designed primarily for fast owner‑pilot and light corporate missions. In category terms, the King Airs emphasize redundancy and cabin versatility (including more “true cabin” space and mission flexibility), whereas the TBM 960 emphasizes speed and efficiency with a smaller cabin footprint. On range, the King Air 360ER is the long‑leg specialist of the three, offering the greatest endurance for longer nonstop segments compared with the King Air 260 and typically more than the TBM 960, depending on payload and reserves. The King Air 260 provides strong midsize mission range but is not optimized for maximum long‑range ferry capability like the 360ER. The TBM 960 delivers solid range for a single‑engine turboprop, but it generally trails the 360ER and may be closer to the 260 depending on configuration. For passenger capacity, the King Air 260 and 360ER commonly seat more people in typical executive layouts than the TBM 960, which usually carries fewer passengers due to its narrower cabin and seating arrangement.
| Spec | Beechcraft King Air 260 | Beechcraft King Air 360ER | Daher TBM 960 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Summary | |||
| Cockpit | 2 | 2 | 2 |
| DOC / nm | $ 4.30 | $ 4.37 | $ 2.25 |
| Min Crew | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Total Seats | 8 | 10 | 6 |
| Flight Rules | IFR | IFR | IFR |
| Manufacturer | Beechcraft | Beechcraft | Daher TBM |
| Aircraft Name | KingAir 250 | KingAir 350ER | TBM 960 |
| Certification | FAA / EASA | FAA / EASA | FAA / EASA |
| Max Range (nm) | 1420 | 2338 | 1730 |
| DOC / nm / Seat | $ 0.72 | $ 0.55 | $ 0.56 |
| Max Cabin Seats | 8 | 9 | — |
| OEM Verification | VERIFIED | VERIFIED | Un-Verified |
| Useful Load (lbs) | 3760 | 6585 | 2908 |
| Standard Cabin Seats | 6 | 8 | 4 |
| Direct Operating Cost | $ 1,333 | $ 1,324 | $ 744 |
| Flight Deck (Base Spec) | Rockwell Collins Pro Line Fusion | Rockwell Collins Pro Line Fusion | Garmin G3000 |
| Max Cruise Speed (ktas) | 310 | 303 | 330 |
| Base Aircraft Price (USD) | $6,450,000 | $8,750,000 | $4,450,000 |
| Aircraft Type | — | — | Turbo Prop |
| Cabin | |||
| Cockpit | 2 | 2 | 2 |
| Lavatory | 1 Flushing | Yes (Belted Optional) | No |
| Min Crew | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Total Seats | 8 | 10 | 6 |
| Max Cabin Seats | 8 | 9 | — |
| Lavatory Location | AFT | AFT | — |
| Cabin Pressure (psi) | 6.5 | 6.5 | 6.2 |
| Galley / Refreshment | No | Refreshment Center | — |
| Standard Cabin Seats | 6 | 8 | 4 |
| SL Cabin Altitude (ft) | 15293 | — | 14390 |
| Cargo Door | — | Optional | — |
| Galley Location | — | FWD | MID |
| Engine | |||
| FADEC | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Model | PT6A-52 | PT6A-60A | TBM 960 |
| TBO (hrs) | 3600 | 3600 | 3500 |
| Horsepower | 850 | 1050 | 850 |
| Flat Rating | ISA + 37 | ISA + 10 | ISA + 49 |
| No. of Engines | 1 | 1 | — |
| Fuel Capacity (gal) | 544 | 775 | — |
| Dimensions | |||
| Length (ft) | 43.8 | 46.7 | 35.3 |
| Wingspan (ft) | 57.9 | 57.9 | 42.1 |
| Cabin Width (ft) | 4.5 | 4.5 | 4 |
| Cabin Height (ft) | 4.8 | 4.8 | 4.1 |
| Cabin Length (ft) | 16.7 | 19.5 | 13.4 |
| Overall Height (ft) | 14.8 | 14.4 | — |
| Cabin Width - Floor (ft) | 4.1 | 4.1 | — |
| Cabin Length - Seating (ft) | 16.7 | 19.5 | — |
| Baggage Volume Int. (cu. ft) | 55 | 71 | — |
| Cabin Volume (cu. ft) | — | — | 123 |